Gold swung between gains and losses on Friday and were traded below $1,300 an ounce as investors stayed optimistic amid a progress in the U.S. debt ceiling debate in Washington between Barack Obama and congressional lawmakers. Bullion for settlement in October advanced and fell 0.3% before it was traded at $1,290.32 an ounce as of 9:20 a.m. Singapore time.
Corn declined on Friday falling to the lowest level in three years amid dried weather in the U.S. causing a record harvest in the world's largest producer and as demand for ethanol from the crop may decrease if the country's government reduces the biofuel mandate. Corn for delivery in December slipped 1.2% to $4.33 a bushel on the CBOT, the
West Texas Intermediate crude increased on Friday and was set to record its fourth weekly drop in five after debate between the U.S. President Barack Obama and House Republicans failed to find an agreement over the new debt limit avoiding the country's default. WTI for settlement in November fell 73 cents to $102.28 a barrel on the NYMEX and was
Treasuries declined on Friday falling from the strongest levels this week amid speculations that negotiations over the new debt ceiling in Washington may result in raising the debt limit in time avoiding the technical default. The benchmark 10-year government bonds were little changed at 2.68%, while the 2.5% security due in August 2023 was at 98 ½.
Performance of Chinese economy is set to improve this year compared to original estimates amid a notable pick up in the Q3 and it likely stays above 7% for the foreseeable future, the People's Bank of China Deputy Governor Yi Gang said on Thursday. Current economic growth of the country is forecast to record a 7.5% or 7.6% increase.
Germany's insolvency proceeding decreased in the first six months of this year from the same period in 2012, a report released by the Federal Statistical Office unveiled on Friday. According to the report, the country's local courts in the first half of 2013 reported total of 70,990 requests for the opening insolvency proceedings, while consumers accounted for 45,715 and enterprises
The Japanese Yen fell versus majority of its most-traded counterparts on Friday as local shares increased amid persisting shutdown in the U.S. as lawmakers failed to find an agreement on the new debt limit curbing demand for Yen as a refuge. Yen weakened 0.2% to 98.33 per U.S. Dollar at 8:55 a.m. in London after it dropped 1.5% three days
China's shares increased on Friday pushing the benchmark area index to the biggest weekly gain in one month after a report showed that car sales in the country exceeded forecast sending the SAIC Motor Corp., the nation's largest carmaker, to the highest level in four months. The Shanghai Composite Index added 1.7% to 2,228.15 at the close and it rose
Asian equities rose on Friday climbing to the strongest level in a three-week period as investors stayed optimistic after yesterday's progress in debt ceiling debates as U.S. lawmakers concern a short-term increase of the debt limit. The MSCI Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan advanced 1.2% touching the highest level since September 19.
Japan's M2 money stock stayed unchanged in the month of September matching economists' expectation, a data released by the Bank of Japan revealed on Friday. Japanese M2 money stock was up 3.8% worth 850.8 trillion yen in September, the same level recorded in the previous month, while the M3 money stock was up 3.1% worth 1,161 trillion yen.
Initial claims for jobless benefits in the world's largest economy increased by more than economists initially projected in the week ended on October 5, a report released by the Labor Department revealed on Thursday. According to the report, first-time jobless claims advanced from 308,000 to 374,000, while the figure was forecast to stand at 310,000 in the week.
Government bonds of European countries fluctuated as U.S. policymakers came closer to making an agreement about new debt ceiling as the House Republican and Senate Democratic politics concern a short-term increase of debt ceiling. Italian 10-year bonds dropped 7 basis points to 4.31%, Austrian 10-year yields advanced 5 basis points to 2.39%, while Spain's debt was at 4.34%.
German government bunds decreased on Thursday falling for the third straight day together with Treasuries amid signs that the U.S. government shutdown may come to an end as lawmakers debate over the short-term increase of the debt limit. The German benchmark 10-year bund yielded at 1.88%, up six basis points as of 2:54 p.m. London time, the most since September
Emerging-markets stocks gain to 2-week high on US debatesEmerging-market equities advanced on Thursday rising to the highest level in two weeks as investors were optimistic about a new debt limit agreement between the U.S. President Barack Obama and congressional lawmakers to avoid a default. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index gained 0.7% to 1,013.08 as of 10 a.m. New York time,
Industrial production in Greece declined 7.2% in August of 2013 on the annual basis, while in July the output posted a contraction of 7.7%. On the monthly basis, the index dropped 11% after a 0.2% rise in July. According to the data, all majors industrial sectors registered a decline. Moreover, quarrying and mining sector plunged 16.4% from the previous year,
U.S. House Republicans offered Democrats and President Barack Obama a deal, where they suggest a short-term six-week debt ceiling increase to finance budget expenditures. According to the plan, this time will be used for negotiations between two parties on country's budget with perspectives to raise the debt limit for a longer period of time. The current limit will be reached
According to the new data, core machinery orders in Japan added as much as 5.4% in August of this year, while economists forecasted a modest growth of 2.7%, twice less than the real result. It is worth pointing out that orders jumped for the first time in three months, as they decreased slightly by 0.03% in July. Economists say that
The Bank of England has kept its monetary policy unchanged after the meeting on Thursday. The regulator will continue to buy 375 billion pounds of assets, while the official rate was kept at 0.5%. BoE officials say that there will be no monetary policy changes until the unemployment rate declines to 7%. Recently, the IMF has upgraded growth outlook for
Unemployment rate in Australia surprisingly dropped in September of 2013, while the total number of people in work increased for the first time in three months. Jobless rate reached 5.6% against 5.8% a month earlier, while employment added 9,100. Economists say that a decrease of the official Central bank rate was a right decision, which has already started bringing first
Manufacturing production in France jumped 0.2% in August of this year, while during the two previous months the production decreased. Meanwhile, economists expected the output to add 0.6%. Analysts say that the rebound in manufacturing sector of the country was caused by a rise in automotive industry, which recovered in August after a significant drop of 19.5% in July.
U.K. shares advanced, with the regional benchmark FTSE 100 Index bouncing off from the lowest level in three months, on signs that U.S. officials could find a compromise in the nearest time. The FTSE 100 gained 1% to 6,398.26 as of 12:56 p.m. London time, snapping its three day streak of losses. The FTSE All-Share rose 1% as well, while
The Aussie depreciated as employers created fewer jobs than it was expected by economists previous month, leading to lower than forecasted unemployment rate. Australia's currency dropped 0.4% to 94.10 U.S. cents as of 5:01 p.m. Sydney time, while the Kiwi retreated 0.7% to 82.48 U.S. cents.
House prices in the 17-nation bloc advanced in the three months ended in June recovering from a steep drop recorded in the first three months of this year, a report released by the European statistical agency Eurostat unveiled on Thursday. Eurozone's house prices moved up by 0.3% in the Q2 after the figure recorded 1.4% fall in the Q1.
The British currency was little changed against the greenback after nation's central bank left its interest rate unchanged at 0.5% and kept its stimulus programme at 375 billion Pounds. The Sterling was at $1.5949 as of 12:03 p.m. in London after declining to $1.5914 , the weakest level since September 18, while the currency traded at 84.84 pence per Euro.